Method of laying a ballistic missile

ABSTRACT

A device including an arm with proximal and distal ends, a telescope, a connector disposed in pivotal relation between the proximal end and the telescope and provided with a mechanism in engagement between the telescope and arm for intersection of the distal end and the axis of said telescope during rotation thereof.

United States Patent Stripling et al.

METHOD OF LAYING A BALLISTIC MKSSILE Inventors: William W. Stripling; Harold V.

White; Joe S. Hunter, all of Huntsville, Ala.

Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army, Washington, DC

Filed: Oct. 15, 1973 Appl. No.: 406,405

Related US. Application Data Division of Ser. No. 328,796, Feb. 1, 1973.

11.8. C1 244/316, 356/149, 350/16 lint. Cl. F41g 11/00 Field of Search 244/316, 3.17; 350/16,

[ Dec. 3, 1974 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,310,877 3/1967 Slater 356/149 3,797,782 4/1974 Stripling et a1, 244/3.16

Primary Examiner-Benjamin A. lBorchelt Assistant Examine r.1. V. Doramus Attorney, Agent, or Firm-William P. Murphy [5 7] ABSTRACT A device including an arm with proximal and distal ends, a telescope, a connector disposed in pivotal relation between the proximal end and the telescope and provided with a mechanism in engagement between the telescope and arm for intersection of the distal end and the axis of said telescope during rotation thereof.

1 Claim, 3 Drawing Figures PATENIEL DEE 31974 SHEET 1 0F 2 FIG.

METHOD OF LAYING A BALLISTIC MISSILE CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This is a division of application Ser. No. 328,796, filed Feb. I, 1973.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A ballistic missile including a level platform with an axis and a mirror in parallel relation thereto is disposed with the platform axis within 7 /2 of a target azimuth by means of a compass (normal accuracy of the compass). The ballistic missile is limited to inflight corrections of 35 minutes of target azimuth misalignment.

The missile laying device is disposed with the proximal end in the axis of a north seeking apparatus and the connector and arm in aligned normal relation with the platform axis as determined by autoreflective relation of the telescope and the mirror.

The angular error between the platform axis position and the target azimuth is determined from the gyro apparatus and the telescope is rotated through an angle B proportionate to the angular error for normal relation of the telescope axis with the target azimuth. The platform axis is finally rotated into the target azimuth and normal relation with the telescope axis as determined by autoreflective engagement thereof with the mirror.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a view of the laying device in engagement with a ballistic missile;

FIG. 2 is a cutaway view of the connector; and

FIG. 3 is a graphic illustration of the laying problem.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A laying device 11 is provided with an arm 13 having a length L and a telescope 15 with a connector 17 having a length 1 in pivotal engagement therebetween. A ballistic missile 19 with shell 20 is provided with a level platform 21 having an axis 23 and a mirror 25 parallel to axis 23.

Connector l7 and arm 13 of the laying device are dis posed for aligned normal relation with axis 23 as determined by autoreflective alignment of telescope I5'with mirror 25 and with proximal and distal ends 27 and 29 of arm 13 in respective engagement with the axis of a north seeking gyro device 31 and stable platform axis 23. In most cases a portion 32 of arm 13 is deleted to provide virtual intersection of distal end 29 with axis 23 and prevent interference of arm 13 with shell 20 of the missile. Variable gear 33 is secured to telescope l5 and a spur gear 35 in rotatable engagement with arm 13 through pulleys 37 and belts 39 is biased by spring 41 into engagement with variable gear 33.

Variable gear 33 is disposed for coincidence of axis 43 of telescope 15 with distal end 29' during revolution of telescope 15.

In FIG. 3, 0: ll1= 180 ill 180 a 6 B ll! 180 0+8 180-01= 180 0+B=a tan 0 d/L; d Ltan 6 d/sinB=l/sin4 whereqb=(180[l80(90+0)]) sin B d sin (90 6)/1 L tan 0 sin (90 6)/1= L/l tan 0 Cos 0 Sin B= L/l sin 0 B sin"[L/l sin 0] OPERATION Telescope 15 is rotated through angle B from the alignment position for normal relation of axis 43 of telescope 15 with'target azimuth 45, and level platform 21 is rotated to autoreflective alignment of mirror 25 with telescope axis 43 to complete the laying of missile 11 to within 3 1/2 minutes of target azimuth 45.

We claim:

1. The method of laying in a target azimuth a compass-oriented ballistic missile having a stable platform with an axis and a mirror in parallel relation therewith, comprising:

aligning said connector and said arm with said telescope in autoreflective alignment with said mirror and said proximal and distal ends in respective engagement with the axis of a north-seeking gyro device and the platform axis for normal relation therewith of said arm,

determining from the north-seeking gyro device the angle 0 between the platform axis and the target azimuth;

rotating the telescope through an angle [3 equal to sin"[L/l sin 6] where L and 1 are the respective lengths of the arm and the connector; and rotating the missile platform to autoreflective engagement of the telescope and mirror to lay the missile in the target azimuth.

UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTIQN Patent No, 3:851,844 I Dated December 3, 1974 Inventor) William W. St-r1p11ng et a1 It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 2, line 13 should read =1 6 5 180 on l8 0 Signed and sealed this 27th day of May 1975.

(SEAL) Attest:

, C. MARSHALL DANN Y RUTH C. MASON Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer and Trademarks FORM PO-105O 110-69) USCOMM-DC 60376-P69 U,5 GGVEHNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: a 69- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent 3,851,844 Dated December 3 T974 Inventofls) William W. St-r1p11ng et a1 It is certified thaterror appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 2, line 13 should read 1 6 5 180 on 180 Signed and sealed this 27th day of May 1975,

(SEAL) Attest:

. C. MARSHALL DANN RUTH C. MASON Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer and Trademarks =oRM po-mso'no-es) USCOMM-DC acme-pee U.$ GGVERNMENY PRINTING OFFICE t 9 9 

1. The method of laying in a target azimuth a compass-oriented ballistic missile having a stable platform with an axis and a mirror in parallel relation therewith, comprising: aligning said connector and said arm with said telescope in autoreflective alignment with said mirror and said proximal and distal ends in respective engagement with the axis of a northseeking gyro device and the platform axis for normal relation therewith of said arm, determining from the north-seeking gyro device the angle theta between the platform axis and the target azimuth; rotating the telescope through an angle Beta equal to sin 1(L/1 sin theta ) where L and 1 are the respective lengths of the arm and the connector; and rotating the missile platform to autoreflective engagement of the telescope and mirror to lay the missile in the target azimuth. 